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Brantford-Brant

Man gets nine months for sex crimes

A Brantford judge had words of comfort for the parents of three young children sexually molested by a Brantford man in 2016.

"For whatever consolation this might be to the families, you can't tell someone is a sex offender by looking at them," Ontario Court Justice Collette Good said last month in sentencing Ronald Glen Chessell, 69, of Lynnwood Drive, to nine months in jail.

"They could be your neighbours, your friends, your uncles, your grandparents and there's no way to tell who is and isn't attracted to children.

"You had no way of knowing this could have happened by someone you trusted."

The judge told Chessell that his crimes have had a "devastating impact on the family members of these children who are now questioning their ability to parent because of you."

Chessell pleaded guilty last November to two counts of invitation to sexual touching. But, in a pre-sentence report and again before the judge, he insisted that his behaviour was the result of drinking.

Court was told that Chessell, on multiple occasions while drinking, touched and licked the bodies of two six-year-old girls and touched them with his penis. He also touched the penis of a visiting six-year-old boy, who then told his mother what happened.

"I do not want anything like that to happen again," Chessell said. "And I was told as long as I stay off the alcohol, it would never happen again."

But the judge chided Chessell for blaming alcohol for his behaviour.

"You were touching three little children multiple times and you didn't stop on your own initiative," said Good. "Alcohol doesn't make you do these things - you are clearly attracted to children."

She said the main reason she accepted a joint submission by the Crown and defence of nine months in jail is because it is within the range for such crimes.

Assistant Crown attorney Ed Slater read statements from the parents of two of the children involved.

One mother said she's wracked by guilt and has been hospitalized several times for suicide attempts.

"I hate myself for allowing myself to think I could trust you," the woman said.

Another parent said the incident has caused them to mistrust people.

Chessell has prostate cancer and depends on insulin. His lawyer said he's also dealing with arthritis and cardiac issues.

After his arrest he was released on bail and has been under house arrest since Dec. 12, 2016. He has no previous record.

"Mr. Chessell is attracted to children," Slater said. "He needs to accept that and get help for it."

The judge ordered that Chessell serve the longest possible probation period of three years once he's released from jail. He also must get counselling for sexual deviance and alcohol abuse, even though Chessell said he hasn't been drinking since his arrest.

And he must not contact the children or their families.

Chessell can't have weapons and must supply a sample of his DNA for the national offenders registry and will be on the sexual offenders registry for the rest of his life.

For 10 years after his release, he won't be allowed around parks, day-cares, schools and other places where children under 16 might be, unless he's supervised by an adult who is aware of his convictions.